Finally got a "Texas Leica"

Colorado CJ · Jun 24, 2017

I've been wanting one of these for many years. I finally won one on Ebay for a price I was willing to spend, and it is in exellent condition, where most are pretty worn looking.

So, what is it? It's a Fuji G690 BL medium format rangefinder. It's been known as a Texas Leica because it's HUGE (nearly 5 lbs), almost cartoon size and it's similarity to a Leica M3. It takes 6cm x 9cm medium format negatives.

Here's a shot of it next to my Canon L2 Rangefinder

Fuji G690 BL by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

I also ran a test roll through it yesterday to make sure everything was working. It seems to work at all sped and the rangefinder is spot on. These are nothing special, just some shots from around my shop. Because of the very large negative, I only get 8 shots per roll.

G690BL Test 1 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690BL Test 2 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690BL Test 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690BL Test 4 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

Since this is very similar to an M3, handling and using it is very easy. It is the fastest medium format camera I've ever used, just what I wanted! I'll probably be taking it up into the high country tomorrow for some hiking and photography.

Prest_400 · Jun 24, 2017

I've got a GW690III but borrowed a G690 for a day. Ideally the former should have carried more features from the G690, like the lack of ping. The latter has a nicer VF+RF for an eyeglass wearer like myself, I guess helped too by a longer normal FL.

Colorado CJ said:
Since this is very similar to an M3, handling and using it is very easy. It is the fastest medium format camera I've ever used, just what I wanted! I'll probably be taking it up into the high country tomorrow for some hiking and photography.

Sometimes I do think these cameras are confusing. Just a larger and heavier RF with an overgrown 35mm factor BUT shooting 8 EXP which lends to a slower more methodical approach.
I have often carried it cycling in the backpack, and stopping for shots.

mark · Jun 24, 2017

drool. Always wanted one of those.

mshchem · Jun 24, 2017

Colorado CJ said:
Since this is very similar to an M3, handling and using it is very easy. It is the fastest medium format camera I've ever used, just what I wanted! I'll probably be taking it up into the high country tomorrow for some hiking and photography.

You have come to the same place I am. I bought a GW690II about 15 years back. OMG this was a life changing event for me. Yes they look Jumbo size, but they handle like a Leica, rangefinder isn't quite as sexy, but it works fine and dandy. I sold my 3 Leicas because the film is too small and the film has too darn many exposures. I have since acquired a GW690III and a GSW690III . Fuji glass is as good as it gets. Nothing gets in the way of making a photograph. No freaking battery, just great glass, manual everything.

My friend took a GW690III out west (of Iowa) to the Tetons for 3 weeks with 3 dozen rolls of Velvia. WOW really amazing, I don't think he even used a tripod.

Best Mike

tim_walls · Jun 24, 2017

Colorado CJ said:
I also ran a test roll through it yesterday to make sure everything was working. It seems to work at all sped and the rangefinder is spot on. These are nothing special, just some shots from around my shop.

I'll tell you for nothing - I'm looking forward to when you get to use it for real, because for "nothing special" I really like all of these (particularly the engine block picture, lovely tones and contrast.)

narsuitus · Jun 24, 2017

Congratulations on your Texas Leica. The two I use have spoiled me. I do not like shooting 35mm black&white much anymore.

Fuji Medium Format Rangefinders by Narsuitus, on Flickr

Theo Sulphate · Jun 24, 2017

Very nice photos, Andrew. Welcome to the club (mine is a GW690III).

papagene · Jun 25, 2017

I have the GW670 II and the GSW690 III... a lot of fun to use, love the results.

Theo Sulphate · Jun 25, 2017

Does the G690 BL have a roll counter on the bottom of the body?

My GW690III does, along with others in the G(S)W6x0 family. I really like the feature, although the operation of its mechanism is ultimately the cause of the ping sound some people dislike.

macfred · Jun 25, 2017

Theo Sulphate said:
Does the G690 BL have a roll counter on the bottom of the body?

It doesn't ...

--

You can change lenses with the G690BL (65-180mm = some are hard to find) - a nice to have ! I have a GW670iii and a GSW690 - love them !

mhanc · Jun 25, 2017

congratulations!!! i have been drooling over these cameras and their large 6x9 negatives for a while now...

any thoughts on the various versions of this camera -- BL, i, ii, iii - etc?

Roger Thoms · Jun 25, 2017

Congratulations on your "new" camera. I have a GW680III which I really like, same body as the 690 version, just a smaller film gate and gearing for 9 shots instead of 8. Just printed one of my shots on 16x20 and it look great. Nice to have that big negative.

Roger

macfred · Jun 25, 2017

Dante Stella wrote some -worth reading- pages about the G690 G690BL GM670 GL690 GW670 GW690 GW670II GW690II GSW690II GW670III GW680III GSW680III GW690III GSW690III ...

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/gw.html

http://www.dantestella.com/technical/g690bl.html

Roger Thoms · Jun 25, 2017

One thing to note, when I bought the 680, I was wanting something a little more rectangular than the 645 Fuji rangefinder that I own. Turns out that 645 and 680 are the same aspect ratio.

Roger

Colorado CJ · Jun 25, 2017

Couple more from my second roll through the G690.

I race FPV Racing Quads in MultiGP, here are a few photos I took during yesterday's race, and one on the way back home.

G690 BL Roll 2- 5 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 2 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 4 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 1 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

mshchem · Jun 25, 2017

Colorado CJ said:
Couple more from my second roll through the G690.

I race FPV Racing Quads in MultiGP, here are a few photos I took during yesterday's race, and one on the way back home.

G690 BL Roll 2- 5 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 2 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 3 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 4 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

G690 BL Roll 2- 1 by Andrew Marjama, on Flickr

You are doing a helluva job. How do you make such nice scans?
Mike

KeithM · Jun 26, 2017

Congrats! The 6x9cm negs from my rather battered GW690II are very pleasing - but 6x9cm transparencies are just stunning. A small album of my results on Flickr. It is high time I gave it another outing (but my recently acquired Hasselblad 500C keeps interfering...)

Willy T · Jun 26, 2017

KeithM said:
Congrats! The 6x9cm negs from my rather battered GW690II are very pleasing - but 6x9cm transparencies are just stunning. A small album of my results on Flickr. It is high time I gave it another outing (but my recently acquired Hasselblad 500C keeps interfering...)

Lovely work, Keith

Colorado CJ · Jun 26, 2017

KeithM said:
Congrats! The 6x9cm negs from my rather battered GW690II are very pleasing - but 6x9cm transparencies are just stunning. A small album of my results on Flickr. It is high time I gave it another outing (but my recently acquired Hasselblad 500C keeps interfering...)

Seconded, very nice work!

What film were you using?

bdial · Jun 26, 2017

Looks familiar from another forum, congratulations. A friend has one, which he really likes (and he does really nice work with it)

KeithM · Jun 27, 2017

Thanks all for the comments.

What film were you using?

The colour ones are Velvia 100, the b&w a mix of Tri-X & Acros 100 (ref the tags on each shot).

Colorado CJ · Jun 27, 2017

mshchem said:
You are doing a helluva job. How do you make such nice scans?
Mike

Thanks! I use an Epson V750 Pro for scanning. I then just adjust the contrast to my liking (very little) and add a slight tone as I would if I were wet printing.

c41 · Jun 27, 2017

Lovely shots, looks like you are well set.

Is there a 6x7 Fuji that comes with a wider angle lens? 65mm ish?

mshchem · Jun 28, 2017

c41 said:
Lovely shots, looks like you are well set.

Is there a 6x7 Fuji that comes with a wider angle lens? 65mm ish?

Unless something special on the Japanese market I'm pretty sure 65 is exclusive to 6x9. I love it about equivalent to 28mm in 35mm format.
Mike

macfred · Jun 28, 2017

c41 said:
Lovely shots, looks like you are well set.

Is there a 6x7 Fuji that comes with a wider angle lens? 65mm ish?

I've never heard about a GSW670 but there is a -super rare- GSW680III with the 65mm FUJINON (scroll down to the middle of the page) : http://herlent.daniel.free.fr/mf_rf/index.html

Finally got a "Texas Leica"

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